Meanwhile, Mr Hayes told Channel 4 News on Tuesday that "in respect of on-shore wind, with what's built and consented and a small proportion of what's in the planning system now, we will have reached our ambitions in respect of the renewables target. End of story."

When he last made similar comments he was quickly slapped down by Mr Davey, who insisted he was in charge of energy policy.

'Undermining confidence'

With the government's Energy Bill due to be published in the next few months, the renewables industry is calling on the prime minister to "get a grip". It accuses Conservatives of policy brinkmanship.

But in the video he was seen to warn about the risks to the UK of relying on liquid natural gas imported from Qatar: "Now Qatar's a great place but it's also near to lot of jihadists. (It is) the size of Guildford. If it was to go into chaos we would be up shit creek, we really would."

He suggests the "prime minister doesn't understand (these issues)".

Neither Mr Lilley nor Lord Howell could be contacted for a comment.

Long-term investments

The disclosures demonstrate the tensions at the heart of government policy - tensions that run through the Energy Bill.

The BBC understands that the Lib Dems are insisting that the Bill should contain a target for carbon reduction in the electricity sector by 2030 but the chancellor insists that there should be no target.

This is a critical decision which will inform energy firms whether they should put long-term investments into renewables and nuclear, or gas.

They also will want to know how they are supposed to plan long-term investments if the chancellor will not say years in advance how much subsidy will be allowed to go to clean energy sources from people's bills.

These firms have been crying out for certainty in investment - but that certainty looks a long way off.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change said the government's policy on on-shore windfarms had not changed.